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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Sacramento Press / The Race to Nowhere in Sacramento

Sacramento Press / The Race to Nowhere in Sacramento

The Race to Nowhere in Sacramento

Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen, Sacramento’s weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of a MOBS event .

On Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 4:00 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will present Race to Nowhere, a feature length documentary examining pressures faced by children and teens in today’s achievement-obsessed culture.Director Vicki Abeles will be in attendance for a discussion and Q&A.
The film premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October, 2009 and has been screening around the country in theaters, cultural centers and schools.
About the film:
Race to Nowhere is a close up investigation of the pressures American schoolchildren and their teachers face in our achievement-obsessed education system and culture.
Director Vicki Abeles takes viewers to schools across the country to feature the stories of students who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burnt out and worried students aren't learning anything substantive, and college professors and business leaders, concerned the incoming young people lack the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. The stories of several young people, parents and a teacher are intercut with scenes of family life and in-depth interviews with top experts in education, medicine, and psychology – providing a deep and varied context that underscores the enormity of a potentially looming crisis.
Today, competitive, self-assured, achievement-oriented, young people prepare relentlessly to enter a culture that demands nothing less than their personal best, all day, every day. From preschool through college, children are pressured, pushed, coached, sculpted, scheduled and reviewed, running a never-ending gauntlet towards adulthood.
What happens when personal best is not good enough? What happens when personal best changes into personal nightmare? The unintended consequences of an achievement-obsessed culture can be catastrophic for families and children alike. The mental health of young people may suffer, leading to depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, self-mutilation, and suicide – not to mention binge drinking, self-medication and drug abuse.
"If you care about the future of our country, you are going to want to see this provocative film." - Huffington Post
“[Race to Nowhere] should be required viewing for every parent, teacher and school policy maker.” – Marin Independent Journal
Sunday, April 11, 2010
4:00 PM
Admission: $12.00 general; $10.00 students through 12th grade
Location:
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento
Advance tickets can be purchased at http://www.rtnsacramento.eventbrite.com
Tickets will also be available at the door (cash only)
http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com